Thread: Alpine PXA-H701 Questions

You guys are going on like you actually want to make it complicated. If Cheekz has to have a HU, then get a Alpine with the AI-net controller built in. Then run the SPDIF from the PC sound card to the H700 brain. Then use the HU to switch. That seems much simpler to me than making and modding a bunch of stuff.

BTW, I doubt that Turtle beach USB is going to have high sound quality. Might be OK, but I wouldn't use it.

Originally Posted by turbocad6

alpine systems don't have much of the normal noise level problems because of the AI-net archetchture... everything before the processor is in the AI-net cable, probably balanced twisted pairs? how ever they do it, it just works.

Turbo, don't you think the audio data is sent through the AI-net as digital? Alpine may or may not be using the SPDIF protocol, they may be using something they designed. Still, I seriously doubt it would travel as analog. Consider that it must transfer 6 channels, right? Or would it only transfer 2 channels? I'm not sure. Still, there are just not enough wires in the AI-net cable for there to be 4 dedicated to the analog stereo or even 8 wires for the balanced signal plus the wires needed for the digital communication. I'm sure everything in the AI-net cable must be digital. That's what makes sense to me.

well as a data buss I guess it might be digital.., then 2 wires should carry everything.... haven't really thought about it, but yeah, I guess it has to be...

you would think it should be as simple as having the PC as one input, but the 700 behaves weirdly when you try this & if you try to play a DVD from the head, it'll play the sound of the PC if it's the optical in.... if there wasn't a need to do the switching I'm talking about, then I wouldn't have to bother with this, but it doesn't work that way...

the sound card I'm talking about is this one.... I'm sure it's not the absolute best solution available, but it does the job nicely I think, I've been very satisfied with it so far... it hibernates well & never gives any problems

What if you ran a analog stereo signal out from the PC sound card to the analog input on the H701? Would you be able to switch it at the HU then?

If so, that may the best choice. I honestly think the difference in the 2 signals from my sound card (being that the analog is so good) is so tiny most folks wouldn't be able to tell. I mean it was a small improvement. So the analog signal should be fine for Cheekz use.

sure, that could be done & then just bring it in as an aux, but I'd much rather go optical really.... I don't like going from the tiny jack to rca's, & then I had my pc in front.... digital was the only choice I considered for myself....

just want to add that it's really hard for me to have really judged the sq of this soundcard really cause the limiting factor for me was the quality of the mp3's & music video's that I have... I haven't played with flac or bitperfect yet really, & since I always had a full alpine system, I wouldn't rely on my pc as my best source.... I have like 500 gigs of mp3's & music video's, & they are not recorded in flac anyway, so that has always been my limiting factor there...

OK, Cheekz. I would suggest you try this and see how you like it. I'm sure it will work well. Pick up that Chaintech AV-710 sound card for like $22 and I'll explain how to use the high-end Wolfson DAC on channels 7+8 and how to use the right driver to get the high bitrate sound. Then run that analog out to your H701 brain.

I hope you can get a AI-net HU. That is pretty important and means you don't need to get the $200 controller. You should be set.

If for any reason you want to change the sound card or anything it will be no big lose in money. You could even use that sound cards SPDIF out like I am and built your switcher if you want, but I doubt you will want to.

a good analog card could do it well I guess too.... my install was a laptop so this wasn't an option for me.... I am now going to start playing with high end sound on the pc for my next install... up until now the optical out into the 700 was good enough.....

if the pc is in the rear of the car near the 700 brain this might be your best option, like jason said, no harm in trying, as long as were not talking really long runs it should be fine, but the issues there can be the output voltages of the soundcard... most are going to be around 2v or less.... this may need a line driver & noise can be an issue, which is why I just stayed optical to begin with...

It is about 2V. That is fine for me. No worries there. The Alpine H701 can work just fine with that.
Any long runs with analog wires might pick up noise, but careful routing can take care of that.

Cheekz, you running your PC up front or in the trunk?

Originally Posted by JasonWW

Cheekz, you running your PC up front or in the trunk?

Hey I have the PC in the trunk. And the h701 will go in the trunk once I get it. The HU i am getting is going to be the Alpine CDA-9857 with the ainet. Quick question, the aiNet cable has a special plug to connect into the h701 but to connect to the HU is it rca?


Jason would you mind sending me the inf on

I'll explain how to use the high-end Wolfson DAC on channels 7+8 and how to use the right driver to get the high bitrate sound. Then run that analog out to your H701 brain.

You can email me if you want my email is Cheekz185@gmail.com thanks!